Astrophil & Stella

Astrophil & Stella: Norfolk

Set within 100 acres of parkland, these former stables put open countryside walks and wildlife on your doorstep. Wander across the fields to the deserted medieval village of Godwick, where a ruined church tower juts out from the ground. It’s also a half-hour drive to Wells-Next-the-Sea, a pretty seaside town in the Norfolk Coast AONB. The 19th-century stable block has been transformed into a cosy country bolthole for a family or group of friends. You can spot the village’s old church tower from your private garden, where a patio provides a place to sit in the sun and fire up the gas barbecue, and a vast lawn stretches before you. Or, head inside to the sunny kitchen diner where dining is set for the whole group. Scandi-chic interiors make for a relaxing living room, set around a traditional wood-burning stove should the weather turn chilly. Bedrooms blend in with the estate’s wonderful ladscape, with autumnal tree motifs on feature walls lulling you off to sleep. The only sounds around here are the swish of towering trees and birdsong in the morning.

Home truths:
*Additional extras such as hot tub hire, fire pit hire, Prosecco on arrival and personal tours of the lost village can be arranged with your host
*The nearest supermarket is over five miles away, so having a car is recommended
*There is ample private parking just beyond the patio for guests
*One of the bedrooms has a zip and link mattress so can be set up as a king-size or twin room
*There is a laptop-friendly desk in one of the bedrooms
*For longer stays, bedroom storage and fridge space is minimal